The Longer Bodies Read Free Page A

observe the effect of her words. The assembled company gazed back at her. At the sight of their facial expressions, Priscilla was compelled to check a desire to giggle.
    â€˜To draw up my will,’ repeated Great-aunt Puddequet, staring deliberately at each of the family in turn. ‘The bulk of the property and almost the whole of my private fortune I intend to leave to one of my grandnephews.’
    She paused.
    â€˜Which one?’ asked Francis, unable to think of anything adequate, but feeling that in order to retain the high dramatic tension something ought to be said by someone other than Great-aunt Puddequet herself.
    Great-aunt Puddequet regarded the interrupter malevolently.
    â€˜The one who is first chosen to represent England in one of these field events you have all talked so much about,’ she said. ‘I ought to mention that the three girls—’
    â€˜Three?’ enquired Hilary.
    â€˜Certainly. Your sister Priscilla, Celia Brown-Jenkins, and Amaris Cowes.’
    â€˜Oh, Celia and Amaris, yes,’ said Malpas. ‘I seem to remember them vaguely. Celia was a pretty little kid, I believe, and Amaris rather a piece of frightfulness in looks. Glasses and things.’
    â€˜Your creed appears simple, but is fundamentally sound, Grandnephew,’ retorted Great-aunt Puddequet tartly. ‘Perhaps I may be allowed to continue without interruption. The three girls will each receive one hundred pounds, irrespective of their attainments’—she glanced contemptuously at the mildly pretty and faded face of Elizabeth Yeomond, whose marriage to Godfrey she had strongly opposed, and which opposition, vitriolic in expression, had called forth an (at the time) unforgivable retort from the bridegroom-elect—‘their manners’—she glanced at the averted face of Priscilla, who was laughing—‘or their conduct.’ She shut her lips tightly together. They all knew that the reference to conduct had been called forth by the recollection of Amaris Cowes, who, at the age of twenty-two, had run from the Welwyn Garden City, where all is peace and joy and light, to sordid Bloomsbury. There, in defiance of the family minor prophets, including Great-aunt Puddequet herself, she continued to enjoy life among the artists in an altogether brazen, and, so far as her nearest and (presumably) dearest were concerned, an exceptionally irritating and successful manner.
    â€˜One hundred pounds?’ said Priscilla, who had overcome her risible faculties by a strong effort. ‘That is very kind of you, Aunt. I shall buy!—’
    â€˜Two new dinner frocks and a
thé dansant
,’ said her unregenerate brother Hilary, grinning behind his hand. ‘Cheer up, sister!’ he added,
sotto voce
. ‘Mean old cat!’
    His great-aunt regarded him with disfavour. Her hearing was inconveniently acute at times.
    â€˜Of course, should you find yourself heir to my property and fortune, Grandnephew,’ she remarked, in a tone which indicated that she considered such an event extremely unlikely, ‘you will be at perfect liberty to give any or all of the inheritance to your sister. Far be it from me to comment upon your implicit generosity!’
    Propelled by the stalwart Godfrey Yeomond, the bathchair containing the rich relation then left the dining room. Mrs Yeomond, smiling her unvarying, faded smile, went after it.
    The family dropped its jaw. Malpas spoke.
    â€˜Well, I’m damned!’ said he. The others nodded gloomily.
    â€˜Senile dementia,’ said Francis, shaking his head. ‘Poor old girl.’
    â€˜Of course, she can’t be serious,’ said Hilary. ‘International champions! My God!’
    Priscilla began to laugh again.
    â€˜Who’s holding the baby now?’ she enquired, with sisterly chivalry.

Chapter Two
The Gathering of the Clan
I
    MALPAS YEOMOND REREAD Great-aunt Puddequet’s letter for the fourth